We are so blessed By JD (JONN DE LA PAZ)
I was lucky enough to be a part of the 2005 SFC World GAT where God truly opened my eyes. He reminded me just how blessed I truly was.
There He showed me how much I can give back to our less fortunate brothers and sisters and when I arrived back in Australia, I was rejuvenated to continue serving in GK Youth and to keep offering my time, talents and treasures to those in need.
So I was a bit puzzled when I found myself again at the GAT in 2006. I asked God “What would Your message be for me this time?”
It was during our immersion with the poor when I heard a clear answer to my question. My “GAT buddy”, Janvier Miranda, and I spent a few days living a very simple a peaceful life with the Banatasa family in the GK Immaculate Concepcion Village in Loong.
We did not have the daily comforts and luxuries that we easily took for granted, back in Australia, such as running water. Comparing our blessings to theirs, namely our income, hit the both of us like a ton of bricks. An even bigger shock was
when we saw a brother and sister, about 4 and 5 years old, fetching water from a pump at the bottom of the hill to their house at the top of that same hill, so that they could fill up a 50L drum at home using only a pair of 2L Coke bottles each.
Their parents were hard at work, in the local markets, each day and because they had no running water in their house, it was their task to do this daily so that the family would have water available to drink, for their showers and normal household activities such as washing the dishes.
Our brothers and sisters do not deserve to live like this. They do not have to. We can help because WE ARE SO BLESSED.
Throughout our stay in the village, God was constantly telling me His answer to my question. He kept saying to me “I want you to sacrifice more.” Not only was He asking me to give more of the blessings I receive to the poor, He was also asking me to change for the better. He wanted me to change the way I looked at things, He wanted me to see the difference between a “need” and a “want”.
You see before I went to the Philippines, I already had a long detailed list of the things that I wanted for myself. I wanted a new set of “Bench Body” underwear, new pair of “Jag” jeans, “Polo” tops, etc.
Notice that they were all brand names. I’m ashamed to say that all of these things, I already had. I just wanted new stuff.
At the last session of GAT, we spent some time reflecting on the message that God wanted us to take back home. He gave me two clear cut instructions. They were: “Take care of My people.” and “Be My light.”
God continues to trust me as a steward of His resources and is still counting on me to be an example.
He is counting on me to be a light to those around me to live simply and humbly. I believe that the message I brought back was not just for me. It was for every single one of us.
WE ARE SO BLESSED. I pray that we can all start a change within ourselves. It is not just a “one time” decision. It is going to be a constant daily choice to LIVE SIMPLY SO THAT OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE.
You see before I went to the Philippines, I already had a long detailed list of the things that I wanted for myself. I wanted a new set of “Bench Body” underwear, new pair of “Jag” jeans, “Polo” tops, etc.
Notice that they were all brand names. I’m ashamed to say that all of these things, I already had. I just wanted new stuff.
